Betzy Rosenberg lived in Trondheim with her large family. She left school at the age of 14 and helped in her grandfather’s clothing store. It was there she met Arne Haug-Rønning, a customer.
In October 1942 the Norwegian police arrested all Jewish men, including Betzy’s brother, father, and grandfather, and transported them to a prison camp. At the same time, her mother was moved into a guarded building to await deportation.
When the Norwegian police came to collect the women, Betzy Rosenberg’s name was not on their list, and she was not arrested. Arne Haug-Rønning took her into his small wooden house. They had to be extremely careful to avoid her being discovered. The two of them took turns to eat and sleep, and only ever talked in whispers. She could not leave the house or stand by the windows. She was not allowed to use the lights when she was alone. Arne Haug-Rønning built a tiny hiding place into a wall, where Betzy Rosenberg hid in emergencies.
She stayed in hiding for two and a half years. Betzy Rosenberg and Arne Haug-Rønning married in 1949.